Disgusted by thieves who took sentimental items from a father’s grave, several caring samaritans this week returned smiles to the faces of his four young children.

Tyler, 9, Daytona, 7, Jack, 5, and Shyla Turnbull, 2, lost their father Paul last month.

They placed lights on his Waugh Road cemetery grave in North Albury so they could see it when they drove past at night.

But last week the lights were stolen.

The story on the front page of Monday’s The Border Mail attracted a stream of phone calls and emails from people wanting to help.

One of those people was Squizzy’s Golf Shop owner Aaron Taylor.

“I was obviously disgusted that people went to those levels,” he said.

“I saw in the story that Kmart had sold out of lights so I got my wife to contact (Mr Turnbull’s partner) Joelene Cerminara.”

On Wednesday night Mr Taylor, his son Noah, 7, Ms Cerminara and her kids went on a shopping expedition to Bunnings for new lights.

Fearing they may be stolen again the families decided to decorate the garden Mr Turnbull made for his kids at their home before his death.

“These last few months have been absolutely horrible,” Ms Cerminara said.

“For strangers to come out of the blue without really knowing your story is just amazing.

Bunnings’ Lucy Vidovic and Kmart’s Tracie Walker also called offering to pay for new lights.

“Not that it can replace what they’ve lost but hopefully it can put a smile back on the kids’ faces,” Mrs Vidovic said.

Mr Taylor said he would give Ms Cerminara a $125 gift voucher for Kennedy’s Meats with the money left over from the lights.